Zahid Hamidi Urges Public Not to Underestimate Flood Risk, Govt Steps Up Disaster Preparedness

The public is reminded not to underestimate the possibility of floods this year due to the Northeast Monsoon (MTL), even though forecasts from the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) suggest conditions may not be as severe as last year.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this is because unpredictable changes in weather patterns have led to unusually heavy rainfall in areas that are typically unaffected, such as Perak and Kedah.

“I informed the Cabinet yesterday about this extraordinary development. Normally, the monsoon rains hit the east coast, but now they are occurring in northern Perak and the western coast of Kedah.”

“This is nature’s law, and more importantly, it is the will and decree of Allah. The government has taken greater preparedness measures to face this disaster,” he told reporters.

He said the government, through the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA), continues to strengthen coordination at the state and district levels, especially in flood-prone hotspots, to ensure smooth preparedness for the MTL season.

Ahmad Zahid added that this includes increasing NADMA’s logistical assets and those of other security forces such as the police, military, and fire department, as well as mobilizing volunteer teams nationwide.

Government to utilise early warning system

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Additionally, he said the government is utilising MetMalaysia’s early warning system, which allows weather alerts to be issued up to a week in advance, enabling residents in high-risk areas to prepare accordingly.

“We are requesting evacuations to be carried out three days before water levels rise and heavy rainfall hits a particular area. I hope this directive is followed. We have now installed 1,380 sirens in red zone areas expected to experience high water levels,” he said.

He explained that the warning sirens installed in these high-risk areas will be activated when flood levels reach yellow or red status, allowing residents not only to stay alert but also to be ready to evacuate to temporary or permanent relief centers provided.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Also read: Flash Floods in Perak Damage Graves, Causes Human Remains to Resurface